German court lifts ban on domestic military operations

A German court has lifted the constitutional ban on domestic military operations that was imposed following World World II. German armed forces may now be deployed in case of a strict assault in Germany.

German Bundeswehr armed forces can be deployed in "states of emergency of catastrophic proportions" the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe ruled, but never "in reaction to the threat posed by demonstrating crowds".

DW reported the court further ruled that a decision to deploy the military in domestic operations during a national disaster must be approved by the federal government.

The court ruling reverses a 2006 decision on domestic military use which cited abuses committed by German forces during the Nazi era. Earlier attempts to lift the ban took a more relaxed approach, requiring only the approval of the defense minister rather than the federal government.

In recent months Germany has seen an increase in both the far-right and Islamic extremism.